HomeMy WebLinkAbout13.F.1. Term of Mayor /3. F. 1,
CITY OF SHAKOPEE
Memorandum
TO: Mayor and City Council
Mark McNeill, City Administrator
FROM: Judith S. Cox, City Clerk
SUBJECT: Term of Mayor
DATE: May 11, 2010
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND:
From time to time, various Council members have suggested talking about changing the term of the
Mayor from two years to four years. At the request of the City Administrator, I have looked into the
process to do so.
According to MSA 412.022, the city council may, by ordinance, establish a four -year term or
reestablish a two -year term for the office of mayor. The ordinance must be adopted no later than four
weeks before the closing date for the filing of affidavits of candidacy for such election.
Electing a mayor for a four -year term at the 2011 municipal election would require the city council to
adopt an ordinance no later than July 5, 2011.
November 8 Election Day
August 23 Close of filings for office, 77 days prior to election day
July 26 4 weeks prior to close of filings, ordinance must be adopted
July 21 Publication of ordinance setting mayor's term at four years
July 5 City Council adopts ordinance setting mayor's term at four years
The terms of the mayors in some other cities are as follows:
4 -year term: Eden Prairie, Burnsville, Apple Valley, Prior Lake and Savage
2 -year term: Chaska, Lakeville, New Prague, Belle Plaine, and Elko New Market
DISCUSSION:
The City of Chaska did extensive research on this issue last year. A summary of the advantages and
disadvantages is attached.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Continue with the mayor's term at two years
2. Change the mayor's term to four years
RECOMMENDATION:
Discuss whether or not to change the term of the mayor from two years to four years and if this is
desired, direct staff to prepare the appropriate ordinance and bring it to city council for consideration.
h: \judy \termofmayor
Issues relating to changing the Mayoral term of office
from two years, to four years
Advantages:
1. Creates more continuity in the position.
2. May encourage longer -term vision and planning.
3. Avoids having the majority of the City Council turn over every two years.
4. Permits the Mayor to have enough time to learn, and demonstrate success in that first term.
5. Provides equal treatment to the Mayoral position, which has the same formal voting power as
do other Council positions.
6. May discourage the potential "one issue" candidate, as a four year commitment is required.
Disadvantages:
1. It removes the ability of residents to consider who represents the community every two years,
and eliminates the "face to face" communications during that campaign.
2. If a Mayor is not considered successful, it creates a longer period of time until voters can
"unelect" that individual.
3. It removes one member of the City Council who may be viewed to have more
"accountability" to the public, because they are elected more often.
4. Removes the ability of voters to make wholesale changes to the City Council every two
years.
5. If it is not perceived to be a broken system, is there a reason to fix it?
Source: City of Chaska survey, 2009